Thank you Hobie Alter!

Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Hobart "Hobie" Alter died this past weekend. He was 80 years young.

The Henry Ford of the surfboard and the daddy of the Hobie Cat beach catamaran. Like many sailors, I started on a Hobie16 and the thrill of flying a hull has never abated, and it never will. Hobie was in the first class inducted to the National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF).

Fair Winds and thanks Hobie!
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
I really miss the Hobie 16 that I bought in the early 80's as a graduation present to myself and sold in the 90's for windsurfing gear. I rue the day I sold her, but then I miss windsurfing equally. I include Holye Schweitzer (and Jim Drake) in that category of innovators as well.
 
Windborne

Windborne

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Aug 2, 2011
90
Newport 30 MKIII Madeira Beach, FL
Many years ago a Hobie 33 moved into the slip next to me. The boat was sleek and beautiful and looked fast standing still.
 
DHaranSailor

DHaranSailor

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Oct 13, 2013
182
Wayfarer Mark I GRP Chicago
Gunni said:
Retracting bulb keel, easy-stepped mast, OB motor well. Never sailed one but been passed by one :) !!!
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What is this "easy-stepped mast" you speak of? On my O'Day it is not the worst thing in the world, but takes a Gin Pole and two people.
 
S

StinkBug

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Dec 26, 2012
359
MacGregor 25 San Diego
It's all in the rigging used to raise it. I'll wager a guess that the mast on my Mac25 is a bit longer than your Oday, and it's an easy one man job with my raising setup. From driving down the road to sailing away in about 45min.

I'd certainly be interested to see the setup on that Hobie though, and with a retractable keel I'm curious how trailerable it is?
 
shemandr

shemandr

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Jan 1, 2006
7,997
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
StinkBug said:
I'm curious how trailerable it is?
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It's a real trailerable boat. It was designed to be a weekend racing platform and to travel to different venues.
I've sailed on one, with a fixed keel, and it is a joy to sail racing or not. Light and easily driven.
That boat is for sale here. Good sail inventory, good bottom, 3 yo 4 stroke outboard, trailer and I'm guessing it could be had for around 10k maybe less. Seller is motivated.
 
A

Allan12498

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Jan 22, 2008
22
Hunter 430 Beaumont, Texas TX
Grew up surfing in the 60's, but never had a Hobie. I did have a Hobie 16 at our beach house on Bolivar Peninsula that we loved. Kid's and Golden Retriever would sit on hulls in front of the tramp as we cruised down the beach. Hurricane Ike took both the house and cat away.
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
I also had a Hobie 16. loved that boat!

the rotating mast was pretty cool too. (I wonder who invented that?)


Godspeed Hobie!
 
DHaranSailor

DHaranSailor

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Oct 13, 2013
182
Wayfarer Mark I GRP Chicago
I have just moved into a new house. We have about a four acres lake behind us, do you think we could use one of the smaller sailing Hobie's on it?
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
DHaranSailor said:
What is this "easy-stepped mast" you speak of? On my O'Day it is not the worst thing in the world, but takes a Gin Pole and two people.
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Yes, a gin pole. What do you want, a remote-control joystick :) ?
 
DHaranSailor

DHaranSailor

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Oct 13, 2013
182
Wayfarer Mark I GRP Chicago
Gunni said:
Yes, a gin pole. What do you want, a remote-control joystick :) ?
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No. I enjoy sailing for the relief from joy sticks, remote controls, and general access to email and other things that cause me to do work.

My mast is 44lb I believe, I was just surprised when I couldn't step it without the mechanical aid.
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
I used to step my 35# one-design race boat mast by myself, but I still needed someone to connect the stays. Always wished the designers had designed in a gin-pole arrangement - that would have allowed me to do it single-handed.
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,319
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
DHaranSailor said:
I have just moved into a new house. We have about a four acres lake behind us, do you think we could use one of the smaller sailing Hobie's on it?
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A Lido 14, or any 12-16 foot dinghy, would be way more fun on a small body of water like that.... the beach cats aren't too much fun unless you have a 1/2 mile or longer stretch of water where you don't have to turn so much, and believe me turning is the least fun thing on a beach cat.....whereas a sloop rig dinghy is all about turning and keeping the boat flat... way more fun for 2 people. You can still hike out and get wet if you like, but you can also carry passengers that don't need rubber knees.
 
S

shelterd

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May 13, 2014
4
hobie 20, 16, powerskiff shelter island
re:hobie

shemandr said:
It's a real trailerable boat. It was designed to be a weekend racing platform and to travel to different venues.
I've sailed on one, with a fixed keel, and it is a joy to sail racing or not. Light and easily driven.
That boat is for sale here. Good sail inventory, good bottom, 3 yo 4 stroke outboard, trailer and I'm guessing it could be had for around 10k maybe less. Seller is motivated.
Click to expand
shemandr--any chance i could take a look at that boat?
 
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